How to Cancel Bluehost in 2026 (Get a Refund + Migrate Your Site)

Updated 2026-02-20 · 6 min read

🔓 The "WordPress Recommended" Lie

Bluehost's "Recommended by WordPress.org" badge? It's a paid affiliate deal. WordPress.org earns a commission for every Bluehost signup. The recommendation isn't based on quality — it's based on money. Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital (EIG), which owns 80+ hosting brands and packs hundreds of sites on shared servers. Your $2.95/month intro price becomes $10.99-$28.99/month at renewal.

Bluehost's Pricing Trap

Basic: $2.95/month intro → $11.99/month renewal (303% increase)
Plus: $5.45/month intro → $18.99/month renewal
Choice Plus: $5.45/month intro → $23.99/month renewal
Pro: $13.95/month intro → $28.99/month renewal
Fine print: Intro prices require 12-36 month upfront payment
Add-ons auto-enrolled: CodeGuard ($2.99/month), SiteLock ($1.99/month), SEO tools ($1.99/month)

Step 1: Back Up Your Site

WordPress: Install "All-in-One WP Migration" or "UpdraftPlus" → full site backup → download
Files: cPanel → File Manager → select all in public_html → Compress → Download
Database: cPanel → phpMyAdmin → Export → SQL format
Emails: Back up any email accounts hosted on Bluehost
Domain: Check if your domain is registered through Bluehost (My Domains → see registrar)

Step 2: Transfer Domain (If Registered at Bluehost)

Domains → My Domains → select your domain
Turn off Domain Lock
Get your EPP/Authorization Code
Initiate transfer at new registrar (Cloudflare, Namecheap, Porkbun)
Approve the transfer when Bluehost emails you
Wait 5-7 days for completion

Step 3: Cancel Bluehost

Log into bluehost.com
Go to My Sites → Account
Click Cancel Account (or contact support via chat/phone)
Bluehost support: 1-888-401-4678
They WILL try to retain you — be firm
Ask about your prorated refund for unused months

Refund Policy

Within 30 days: Full refund (minus domain registration fee if included)
After 30 days: No refund on most plans — this is why they push annual/multi-year billing
Domain fee: If you got a "free" domain, they keep ~$15.99 from your refund
Add-ons: SiteLock, CodeGuard, etc. may have separate refund windows

Better Hosting Alternatives

For WordPress: SiteGround ($2.99/month intro, better support), Cloudways ($14/month, fast managed hosting)
For static sites/portfolios: Vercel (free), Netlify (free), GitHub Pages (free) — literally $0/month
For VPS (more control): DigitalOcean ($4/month), Hetzner ($3.29/month), Linode ($5/month)
For simple websites: Carrd ($19/year total), WordPress.com (free tier), Google Sites (free)
The honest truth: If your site gets <10,000 visits/month, you can host it for free on multiple platforms

💡 The EIG Warning

Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital (formerly EIG), which also owns HostGator, iPage, A2 Hosting, and dozens more. They all run on similar infrastructure. If you're leaving Bluehost, don't switch to another EIG brand — you'll get the same experience with a different logo. Choose an independent host like SiteGround, Cloudways, or a VPS provider.

🔍 Find All Your Hosting Charges

Bluehost, GoDaddy, domain renewals, SSL certificates — web hosting costs add up. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every subscription and recurring charge.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Bluehost

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions